Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Posted on: July 5, 2011 12:00 pm

Edited on: July 22, 2011 4:48 pm

Posted by Chip Patterson

July 1 marked the first day in the house for recent conference jumpers like Utah and Nebraska. As the conferences continue to realign, eyes continue to turn to the 8-team Big East. With TCU arriving in 2012 and the negotiation of a new media deal on the horizon, it is assumed that the conference will be making more moves in the near future to increase membership. Jason Brewer, of SB Nation Philly, pulled together some interesting quotes from Temple recruits that suggest the Owls rumored move back into the Big East could come as soon as after this season.

First came quotes earlier from Temple Football Forever, which included TE Tanner Kearns sharing his excitement for the potential to play in Lincoln Financial Field and "knows" the Owls "plan on moving to the Big East soon." The father of Temple commit CB Tavon Young took it a step further, stating his son will be close to home and "in the Big East in 2012." Add those quotes to the recent statements from LB Michael Kalaman and TE Jameson McShea and you've got to assume that there there is something going on behind the scenes in Philadelphia.

Temple spent 14 years in the Big East before their departure in the exodus of 2003-2004. Since then current Miami head coach Al Golden worked to rebuild the program from within the MAC, bringing the Owls their first postseason appearance in 30 years in 2009. After his departure to the Hurricanes, the hiring of Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has helped continue the momentum that Golden started in Philadelphia.

But Temple is not the only team that has been discussed in possible Big East expansion. The conference nearly gave one bid away to Villanova before discussions took a turn in another direction, many believe that UCF is a football powerhouse in the making that could benefit the conference geographic balance, and recently the addition of Army and Navy has been discussed. I doubt that Temple's staff would be outright lying to recruits, so they at least have some reason to believe that Temple's invitation to the BCS ranks could be coming in time to join along with TCU.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto told CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy that there is no "best model" for Big East expansion, but there is certainly an end date. By September 2012, the conference needs to be set in their membership in order to capitalize on the negotiation of a new media deal when their current one with ESPN expires. ESPN has already made moves to try and begin those talks, but the conference still has some moves to make before they are comfortable presenting their future product. Temple's potential addition would bring the conference to ten teams heading into the 2012 season, but what would that mean for their Philadelphia brethren Villanova? The Wildcats, already a member of the conference in every sport but football and women's lacrosse, would be one of the easier additions logistically. If the Big East brings in both schools to the football conference, that leaves only one spot left to finish with the magical 12-team count needed to hold a conference championship game. With UCF, Army, Navy, Houston, and East Carolina all likely interested in making the jump, someone is going to get left out. Again.

With all of the other five conferences securing new media deals in the last couple years, the Big East gets to be the prettiest girl at the dance for the next several months. Sure, the schools left aren't exactly the lighting up the BCS standings (only UCF and Houston have ever been ranked); but there is still a lot of potential value for a conference looking to make a statement on the national scene.

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Sorry for the multiple posts...the web site kept timing out, and did not appear to be posting my first reply...

Since: Aug 14, 2006

Posted on: July 7, 2011 1:23 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Only UCF and Houston have ever been ranked? WRONG. Please at least do a little bit of research before writing an article. East Carolina has been ranked many, many times, including a year end ranking of #9 in 1991 (their best season to date). in 2008 ECU opened the season by beating a ranked Virginia Tech, a ranked West Virginia, and Tulane to get as high as #14 in the polls.

If I am not mistaken, it is UCF who just recently earned their first ranking. UCF is definitely looking good right now, but lets remember that ECU is 8-2 against UCF (and 6-4 against Houston). ECU also has the strongest fan following in CUSA, and sells out their 50,000 seat stadium. No other school in the conference can make such a claim.

Since: Aug 14, 2006

Posted on: July 7, 2011 1:20 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Only UCF and Houston have ever been ranked? WRONG. Please at least do a little bit of research before writing an article. East Carolina has been ranked many, many times, including a year end ranking of #9 in 1991 (their best season to date). in 2008 ECU opened the season by beating a ranked Virginia Tech, a ranked West Virginia, and Tulane to get as high as #14 in the polls.

If I am not mistaken, it is UCF who just recently earned their first ranking. UCF is definitely looking good right now, but lets remember that ECU is 8-2 against UCF (and 6-4 against Houston). ECU also has the strongest fan following in CUSA, and sells out their 50,000 seat stadium. No other school in the conference can make such a claim.

Since: Aug 14, 2006

Posted on: July 7, 2011 1:11 pm

only UCF and Houston have ever been ranked???

Umm...are you kidding me? ECU has been ranked many, many times, including a #9 ranking in 1991 (their best). A few years ago ECU beat a ranked Virginia Tech, a ranked West Virginia, and Tulane to get as high as #14 in the rankings.

If I am not mistaken, UCF is the team that only just recently earned their first top 25 ranking.

Since: Oct 4, 2010

Posted on: July 5, 2011 10:56 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Why stop at 12? Break away from the non football schools and be the first 16 team mega conference.

Since: Oct 7, 2007

Posted on: July 5, 2011 9:04 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

This makes alot of sense for the Big East. Temple is a sleeping giant in the fourth largest TV market in the country. The ratings which the team drew when they played UCLA in a bowl game in 2009 , drew record TV audiances in Philadelphia. As one can see the conference already is helping Temple to recruit with 20 verbal recruits already. Golden turned the team to where they are now competative withthe rest of the Big East. Temple has beated U Conn the last two years and U Conn went to a BCS bowl game last year.The 12 team format makes great sense as the league looks to restablish it's football heritige.Temple has made the commitment to stay competative scheduling teamd like Maryland Notre Dame , and Penn State. If they can protect the fertile recruiting grounds in Pa , Southern NJ , and Maryland they should stay solid. With their new Florida coaching staff, they should even be able to snag a few players from the Sunshine State.Go OWLS

Since: May 27, 2011

Posted on: July 5, 2011 5:58 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

I am hoping UCF can make an even bigger splash this year than last. We have more talent here now than we have ever had and it is better and better every year. We need to have another sucessful season like last and then maybe big east consideration will be warranted.

Since: Jun 9, 2011

Posted on: July 5, 2011 3:19 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

IMO the Big East reinviting Temple, inviting UCF and Houston would be a good idea.

Since: Sep 1, 2008

Posted on: July 5, 2011 2:09 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

The Big East jst needs to wait like four years and see how has the best resume between Nova, Memphis, UCF, East Carolina, Houston, Troy, and temple.

Since: Apr 28, 2009

Posted on: July 5, 2011 1:00 pm

Temple recruits: Move to Big East coming soon

Temple would have already had to have been invited by the Big East and accepted by July 1st to join in 2012 if I understand the rules correctly, which I think I do. The rules might be different since Temple is a football-only member of the MAC. Someone please make this clear.